One thing you would change about peoples preconceptions of your faith, or no faith what would that be?

Question

Good morning everyone, I would like to know when it comes to your faith, whatever it may be. Tell me what is the one thing that you would like to change, when it pertains to the way they perceive your faith, and how you worship, or give respect. Give as much detail as you like, and tell me what that faith is, or lack of one. I wish you well

Answer 1

Well the one thing I would like to change wouldn't involve just my lack of religion but all religions. I would want all religions (and lack of religion) to have tolerance of each other.

Answer 2

I'm Wiccan... the biggest one is people in mainstream religions saying we're Satanists. And then they give a nice long list of things we have allegedly done... without proof, of course. That's the most tiring one anyway. They don't even realize they get that info from the Roman Catholic Church during the Spanish Inquisition and the whole idea was that All Heretics worshipped Satan. Heretic, then, meant anyone who was not a Roman Catholic.... so that includes other Christians.

As I said, it's tiring to see so many people spread false information thinking they are spreading truth, without even looking into themselves. Gossipmongers.

Answer 3

That's a good question! I think the main preconception I would like to change about how people see my faith is the opinion that we are evil devil-worshippers who want to kill anyone who is good, mainly Christians. It's simply not true. None of us worship the devil. We don't even believe in him, so how could we worship him? We worship nature and/or nature deities. Yes, we practice magick, but it is not harmful. We have a very firm belief that whatever one sends out will return to them threefold. If we do good, we get good back three times. If we do evil, we get evil back three times. Now what person in their right mind would want to get evil sent back on them threefold?!

Answer 4

I'm Eastern Orthodox, and too often I see people who mistake our use of icons in religious worship as "idolatry." This mostly comes from Protestant groups, actually. They're not idols. They are "windows into heaven."

Also, as an aside, as a member of the Christian religion at large, I get really annoyed when journalists and others fail to understand the fundamentals of the various churches and proceed to make sweeping generalizations about the church. But it annoys me when this happens with any religion.

Answer 5

That they would understand that when we (Christians) answer a question regarding scriptures, we're not being judgmental (well, not all of us). We're only telling what the Word of God says. I think it's because the word of God is like a sword, it divides and it is the word that brings the conviction. I have been accused of being judgmental when I share my experiences or give my beliefs, which are based on the word of God. Not mines, but His. I understand that there are some who don't believe the Bible, but if you ask a question about Scriptures, how else am I, a believer of the Bible, suppose to answer?

Answer 6

As a non-believer I'd like others to understand that:

At a philosophical level:
- We are at least as moral as "believers," and for reasons consistent with what we know of humanity.
- We don't want to deprive you of your religious freedom, but we will oppose the religious right's desire to impose a religious agenda on policies that would erode real science and individual freedom.
At a psychological level, dialog would be much easier if the "believers" stopped harboring illusions.
- Yes, as hard as it is for some to accept, we actually do exist.
- Our philosophy doesn't imply animosity against believers. We love the believer, but, given the opportunity, we'll cream the belief .

Answer 7

That we are devil worshipers! Witches don't do the whole "Devil" thing. However, people have been taught by society that if it isn't Christian, it's devil worship. Basically they have been taught to fear. And why? Well, if people are free to think for them selves then they tend to learn the truth. If everyone was actually in pursuit of learning the truth, well... I think we all know how that would end. Well, at least those of us who think for our selves.

Answer 8

I'm a nihilistic/satanic/atheist (these are statements of my beliefs, not a slam on atheism, yeash -- if you knew how many atheists report me...)

My biggest grief is how many Christians honestly seem to think that I really DO believe in their god, but hate it or reject it, when the truth is, I know for a personal fact that there are NO gods at all.

How can I hate or reject what does not exist?

Answer 9

I wish people would not think Buddhists worship Buddha, they do not, he is an example. Also I wish people would not think Buddhism is nihilistic, it is actually hopeful and positive.

Answer 10

The idea that Christians are all stupid and ignorant. I find that hard to believe when the vast majority of college educated people are Christian.